Turnabout is fair play (On Bleach, and public libraries)

[sara_tanaquil]

Since I have done everything but stand on my head, cry and beg to get everyone I can to read One Piece and share their thoughts with me, and mangaroo particularly wanted to know about my reactions to Bleach after I mentioned that I'd started reading the manga, I figured I owed a post on the subject.

Comments

[collarnojutsu]

Byakuya says (to Rukia) that he looks very much like "HIM."
Future spoiler. Way future.

Ichimaru Gin's role is... confusing. (Is he creepy? Sinister? A good guy? A bad guy?)
I think the general consensus of everyone at the point you are at is that he is a creepy guy no matter what his role is. LOL!

I don't remember all of the details, and couldn't speak intelligently on little touches, but reading this was a fun reminder of how much I enjoyed reading this when I was current. As you noted it is more fighting than anything else - one of the things that makes it so popular with guys, (lol @ hearing it called "pure shounen" back then) - but I also like how eventually it got around to some little reveals about his friends. Chad was definitely a surprise charmer. But what fangirl couldn't love Uryuu?!

[sara_tanaquil]

I know you're on the road right now, but let me know when you get a chance -- how far did you get? From "when I was current," it sounds like you fell behind at some point?

[collarnojutsu]

have to catch up later; just in and falling into bed, but I got somewhere... um, around 20+ (that is, 22-23? Not sure, it was a long time ago, but it was after the volume 20 spoiler and denouement and then for a little ways).

[mangaroo]

Note: you are super-awesome and I only know Bleach through the anime.

Ichigo's father is SUCH a dork.

So much love for this man. Not Uryuu-levels of love, but still...

I don't know if it's the art style or what, but I have a lot of trouble telling the girls from the boys.

Okay, but you're not having this problem with Orihime, right?

Soul Reaper = Shinigami, right?

Right!

Orihime's dead brother being turned into a Hollow was kind of heartbreaking.

Oh, yes. Plus, I have a personal story of not valuing a gift from a loved one enough when I was young(er) and stupid, so that whole thing makes me cryyyy.

I don't know why I find the big lug so endearing

He's pretty. And he has such a strong sense of honor. I like the big guys with honor.

Mizuiro I just don't getMe, neither! I saw him as the sensible guy who puts Keigo in his place. (I love Keigo, by the way. For a long while, every anime story arc started in the school with him being slapped down by Ichigo.) Anyway, then there was some kind of Mizuiro-focused filler story that

[spacealien_vamp]

SonofEDIT: Okay, that apparently is not at all helpful and this is one of those glossing situations where they throw a different pronunciation onto the kanji. So, why Quincy?

I wish I knew. If they ever explained it, I don't remember it happening. All I can say is that every time I read that word, it made me think of the TV show.

[sara_tanaquil]

Are you current in the anime? If not, where are you now (episode-number-wise)?

So much love for this man.

He is such a goober most of the time, but when he gets serious (like on the anniversary of Masaki's death), he is truly sweet. Also, his devotion to his kids is kind of adorable. Even if, in Ichigo's case, that seems to consist most of jumping on him and pinning him down when he's asleep.

(Another of my favorite scenes -- don't know if they included this in the anime -- was during the big Ichigo/Uryuu duel and mass hollow attack, where Karin drags him out to take care of Chad, who's been injured by a hollow, only Chad has already recovered and taken off, and Dad is like "Aw, baby, if you wanted my attention, all you had to do is say so!", and Karin hits him for being a dork, and they start fighting. A chapter later, they're still fighting and both have forgotten why they were out there in the first place. I love Karin.)

Okay, but you're not having this problem with Orihime, right?LOL! No, Orihime, not a problem. (What IS it

[mangaroo]

where are you now (episode-number-wise)?

Episode 259, according to the wiki I forbid you to look at. I'm in the midst of an anime-only arc. Those tend to be very character-centric, since not a lot can actually happen to the characters outside the manga canon. Sad to realize the anime ended in March and the manga is ongoing. I'll never know what happens after they stop moving in color.

Did Sora know, or was that a pure coincidence/act of fate?

I always assumed they were imbued with Orihime's emotions surrounding her brother. That is, her spirit manifested them as a weapon (of sorts...I love the frustrated fairy thing who wants to battle when all Orihime really does is "reject" and heal) rather than the items being inherently weaponized.

I wonder if that was based on the "extra" story I just read at the end of volume 12.

That sounds like the story. Good, I didn't spoil anything.

Sounds like a description of his function, not a name.It appears to be the kanji glossed (furigana'd?) as "Quincy" in the Japanese manga. But I don't have

[spacealien_vamp]

Ichimaru Gin's role is... confusing. (Is he creepy? Sinister? A good guy? A bad guy?)

I'm afraid to comment in general because I don't want to spoil anything, but I think it's probably okay to point out that this character speaks thick Kansai-ben. I don't know whether that is indicated by the English version at all.

[sara_tanaquil]

Oh, thank you! No, his Kansai-ben wasn't visible in the translation at all. This is typical, and I can't say I mind, because any attempt to translate dialect generally fails.

I'd like to read some of this in Japanese eventually, but I'll see how far I get in English first.